Apparatus for treating and handling a beverage



prii 23, w68

R. T. CORNELIUS APPARATUS FOR TREATING AND HANDLING A BEVERAGE FiledJune 28, 1966 United States Patent Oiice 3,379,344 Patented Apr. 23,3&68

3,379,344 APPARATUS FOR TREA'HNG AND HANDLNG A BEVERAGE Richard T.Cornelius, Minneapoiis, Minn., assigner to The Cornelius Company, Anoka,Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Fiied .lune 2S, i966, Ser. No. 56Ll136 iairns. (Ci. 222-76) ABSTACT F THE DSCLOSURE A housing having a heatedvented chamber is supported on a casing which is carried by trunnions ona pivoted bracket which controls r'illing means that direct a highlycarbonated beverage such as coffee against a stationary frusto-conicalsurface at the upper end of the chamber -to cause the beverage to movecentrifugally to a lower portion of larger diameter as a thin layer ofprogressively decreasing thickness so as to decarbonate it and heat itfor withdrawal through a dispensing valve under the control of acoin-controlled timer.

This invention relates generally to an apparatus for treating andhandling a beverage for consumption from a room-temperature supply ofhighly carbonated beverage, in which the beverage is decarbcnated.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included invarious devices, a particularly useful application is made in a coifeedispensing machine. Such application is illustrative and does notexclude other usage.

One feature of this invention is that carbonated beverage, such ashighly carbonated coffee, is tangentially injected and directed againstthe undersurface of a frustoconical cover. The carbonated beverageclings to the underside of such cover due to centrifugal force, and asit moves outwardly and downwardly, the thickness of the beverageprogressively decreases to be a very thin layer or film, therebyeffecting or aiding in effecting decarbonation and bubble breakup.

Conventional liquid level control means do not adequately distinguishbetween a rather iirm foam, produced by carbonation, and liquid.Therefore, a further feature of this invention is that the entirereservoir is supported on an adjustably spring-biasedpivotaliy-supported bracket which actuates a snap switch to open or toclose a control circuit which governs replenishing of the beverage inthe reservoir.

A pressure slightly above atmospheric is maintained in the reservoir bymeans of carbon dioxide gas. This gas is derived from the decarbonationof the beverage. However, when the apparatus is first set intooperation, there is no released carbon dioxide gas present above thebeverage. This condition is particularly objectionable when the pressurein part determines the quantity of beverage to be dispensed in responseto deposit of a particular amount of coinage. Therefore, a still furtherfeature of the invention is the provision of an auxiliary line whichsupplies carbon dioxide gas, such additional gas being under the controlof a pressure regulator so that auxiliary gas will not be admitted whenthe pressure in the chamber is sufiiciently high to be within thecycling range of a relief valve by 'which surplus released gas isvented. Further, when such relief valve is of the gravity type, themachine may have been jiggled, and gas may have been inadvertentlyreleased, thereby prospectively decreasing the amount of beverage thatwill be dispensed at the next purchase. However, the auxiliary supply ofcarbon dioxide gas replenishes such storage pressure so that thecustomer is not cheated.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide abeverage decarbonating and storage mechanism.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means fordecarbonating a pressurized beverage by causing it to move as a layer oras a film which continually decreases in thickness.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide automaticmeans for replenishing the beverage in the decarbonator wherein suchmeans are not actuated by foam which is likely to be present.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide means forinsuring that a dispensing pressure which is obtained from thecarbonation of the beverage will be maintained, particularly when theapparatus is initially placed in operation, and also particularly ifthere has been an inadvertent loss of pressurizing gas.

Many other advantages, features and additional objects of the presentinvention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon makingreference to the detailed description and the accompanying drawing inwhich a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles ofthe present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawing:

The single ligure is a cross-sectional view of an apparatus for handlingor treating a carbonated beverage, provided in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention, certain portions of the drawingbeing diagrammatic.

As shown on the drawing:

The principles of the present invention are particularly useful whenembodied in a preferred form of beverage dispensing apparatus such asillustrated in the drawing, generally indicated by the numeral itl. Thedispensing apparatus is an apparatus for handling and treating abeverage for consumption where the beverage is initially obtained from aroom-temperature supply of highly carbonated beverage, such as a supplyof highly carbonated coffee.

The apparatus l@ includes a housing generally indicated at 11,comprising a lower section l2 and a removable cover 13 jointly definingan interior chamber or reservoir 14. The lower housing section l2 isprovided with an embedded heater and a discharge outlet i6 connected toa dispensing valve 17. The upwardly opening storage section i2 is closedby the cover 13 which has an inlet i8 at its upper end, such inlet beingat the upper end of the chamber 14. The supply of carbonated coifeebeverage is connected by a solenoid valve 19 to the inlet 1S.

The cover 13 has a frusto-conical inner surface Ztl which tapersoutwardly and downwardly. The inlet 1S is disposed so that beverageentering the chamber is tangentia ly directed to iiow against theinterior of the cover. Such beverage clings to the interior due tocentrifugal force, and aided by gravity, the beverage flows downwardlyclinging to the surface 2?. As the area of the surface 2i) graduallyincreases in a downward direction, the layer or lrn of beveragegradually decreases in thickness, thereby aiding in effectingdecarbonation of the beverage and breakup of carbon dioxide gas bubbles.

The lower section 12 and the cover 13 are held together by a clamp lring21. The clamp ring 21 has an inturned flange 22 which engages a slopingexternal portion of the cover i3, such clamp ring 21 having a skirt4portion that spans the overlapping portions of the cover 213 and thestorage section 12. The storage section 12 is provided with a number oflugs 23 which are angularly spaced from each other, there typicallybeing four such lugs equal- 1y spaced. The clamp ring 21 has acorresponding number of indented portions 24 which can pass between thelugs 23, and which move into position below the lugs 23 in response to afractional turn of the clamp ring 21 with re- 3 spect to the housing 11.An O-ring seal is also provided between the cover 13 and the storagesection 12.

The housing 11 has a number of supporting pads 26 disposed lower thanthe lugs 23, the housing 11 being supported by the pads 26 on the uppersurface of a casing 27. The housing 11 maybe lifted in and out of thecasing readily for maintenance such as cleaning. The casing 27 has apair of diametrically arranged trunnions 28 which are carried on abracket 29. The bracket 25'# is pivotally supported as at 30 on a frameportion 31 Vof the dispensing machine. The bracket 29 is biased by aspring 32 which is provided with adjusting means 33 for altering theeffective spring force. Means are provided which are rresponsive to theposition of the bracket or the housing, and in this instance, such meanscomprises an electric switch 34 which is supported to be actuated by thebracket 29 in response to increases and decreases in the amount ofbeverage in the housing 11. As foam is weightless for practicalpurposes, the switch 34 operates independently of whatever foam may bein the reservoir or chamber 14 above the liquid therein. The switch 34is connected to the solenoid valve 19 so that in response to a decreasein beverage level to a predetermined point, the spring 32 will pivot thebracket 29, slightly raising the housing 11, and closing the switch 34,thereby initiating entry of additional carbonated beverage to thechamber. When there has been adequate replenishment, the mass presentwill have increased sufciently so that the bracket 29 will pivotdownwardly, thereby depressing the plunger of the switch 34 and openingthe circuit to the solenoid valve 19.

Decarbonation of the carbonated beverage includes the release of carbondioxide gas from such beverage which gas collects in the upper part ofthe chamber 14. It is desired to maintain a certain predeterminedpressure therein, for example a pressure between two and four p.s.i. Tothis end, there is provided a relief valve generally indicated at 35.The relief valve 35 is of the gravity type and includes a stem 36 whichis clamped and sealed to the cover 13, the upper end of the stemterminatingy in an upwardly directed vaive seat 37. Coacting therewithis a valve 38 that is carried by a weight 39 having an appropriate massso as to create the proper cracking and reseating or resealingpressures. Thus when the pressure in the chamber 14 exceeds the crackingpressure of the relief valve 35, surplus carbon dioxide gas will bevented to the atmosphere, and when the pressure has decreased, theweighted valve 3S will reseat and close. This pressure that is thusmaintained insures a substantially constant rate of ow of beverage whenthe dispensing valve 17 is opened.

The dispensing valve 17 is under the control of a timer 49, which isoperated by a coin control mechanism 41 of a known type. Thus with aconstant pressure acting on the beverage to be dispensed, and with thevalve 17 opened for a predetermined fixed period of time, -a fixedquantity of beverage will be dispensed at each purchase.

When the apparatus is first placed into operation, there will have beenrelatively little carbon dioxide gas released from the decarbonatedbeverage, land possibly not enough pressure wiil be present in thechamber 14 to cause the valve 35 to be within its normal operatingrange. Therefore, an auxiliary supply of carbon dioxide gas is connectedthrough a pressure regulator 42 which leads through a carbon dioxide gasline 43 to the chamber 14. The pressure regulator 42 is so set that itwill admit carbon dioxide gas to 'the chamber 14, but will close off ata pres sure which is slightly below the reseating or resealing pressureof the relief valve 3S, or which is slightly below the operating rangeof the relief Valve 35, thereby insuring against waste of carbon dioxidegas. The auxiliary supply of carbon dioxide gas thereby insures thateven at an early point after the apparatus has been placed in operation,the proper dispensing pressure will `be present. Moreover, as the reliefvalve 35 is of the gravity type, there is a possibility that the vendingmachine may have become jiggled,

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or the carbon dioxide gas may have been lost due to some othercircumstance or inadvertence. Nevertheless, the regulator 42 senses suchcondition and restores and maintains any loss of dispensing pressuregas.

The highly carbonated beverage supply is stored under a pressure severaltimes greater than that of the dispensing pressure, and therefore thedecarbonating-storage-dispensing pressure is relatively low and issomewhat reduced from that of the supply.

Although various minor modications might be suggested by those versed inthe art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scopeof the patent war-` ranted hereon, al1 such embodiments as reasonablyand properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. Apparatus for handling and treating a beverage for consumption from aroom-temperature supply of highly carbonated beverage, comprising:

(a) a housing defining a vented chamber having an inlet for beingconnected to the supply of highly carbonated beverage;

(b) a relief valve connected to said chamber by which the ventingthereof is provided and by which a normal dispensing pressure ismaintained therein;

(c) a heater operative on said housing to raise the temperature of thecarbonated beverage to a level where its carbonation is unstable;

(d) a dispensing valve communicating with said chamber;

(e) a coin-controlled timer connected to control operation of saiddispensing valve;

(f) a carbon dioxide gas line connected to said chamber; and

(g) a pressure regulator for being attached to an auxiliary supply ofcarbon dioxide gas and connected to said gas line for pressurizing saidchamber with carbon dioxide gas to a pressure slightly below the shutoffpressure of said reliefvalve.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which. said relief valve is of thegravity type.

3. Apparatus for handling and treating a beverage for consumption from aroom-temperature supply of highly carbonated beverage, comprising:

(a) a housing having an upwardly opening lower storage section and aremovable cover closing said lower section, said housing sectionsjointly defining a vented chamber having an inlet at its upper end forbeing connected to the supply of highly carbonated beverage, theinterior surface of said cover being a frusto-conical surface taperingoutwardly and downwardly at the upper portion of said chamber, and saidinlet enabling beverage to enter said chamber tangentially near theupper end of the frusto-conical surface;

(b) a heater operative on said housing to raise the temperature of thecarbonated beverage to a level where its carbonation is unstable; and

(c) a dispensing valve communicating with said charnber.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, including a clamp ring securing saidcover to said storage section, and said ring having means by which thering may be detached therefrom in response to a fractional turn thereof.

S. Apparatus for handling and treating a beverage for consumption from aroom-temperature supply of highly carbonated beverage, comprising:

(a) a housing defining a chamber having an inlet at its upper end forbeing connected to the supply of` highly carbonated beverage, the upperportionof said chamber including a frusto-conical inner surface taperingoutwardly and downwardly, and said inlet enabling beverage to enter saidchamber tangentially near the upper end of the frusto-conical surface;

(b) a heater operative on said housing to raise the temperature of thecarbonated beverage to a level Where its carbonation is unstable;

(c) a dispensing valve communicating with said chamber;

(d) a relief valve connected to said chamber by which venting thereof isprovided and by which a normal dispensing pressure is maintainedtherein;

(e) a coin-controlled timer connected to control operation of saiddispensing valve;

(f) a carbon dioxide gas line connected to said chamber; and

(g) a pressure regulator for being attached to an auxiliary supply ofcarbon dioxide gas and connected to said gas line for pressurizing saidchamber with carbon dioxide gas to a pressure slightly below theshut-off pressure of said relief valve.

6. Apparatus for handling and treating a beverage for consumption from aroom-temperature supply of highly carbonated beverage, comprising:

(a) a housing dening a vented decarbonating chamber having an inlet;

(b) a valve connected to said inlet for controlling the admission ofhighly carbonated beverage to said chamber;

(c) a heater operative on said housing to raise the temperature of thecarbonated beverage to a level where its carbonation is unstable;

(d) a dispensing valve communicating with said chamber;

(e) a casing having trunnions and supporting said housing;

(f) a spring-biased pivotally-supported bracket supporting said casingby its trunnions and pivotable in response to increases and decreases ofbeverage in said housing; and

(g) means responsive to pivoting of said bracket for controlling saidinlet valve to replenish beverage in said chamber automatically.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 812,855 2/1906 Ljungstrom 55-2052,381,505 8/ 1945 Lindholm 222-56 2,545,028 3/ 1951 Haldeman 55-2042,667,990 2/ 1954 Mojonnier 222-67 3,084,047 4/ 1963 Holstein et al222-67 X 3,113,871 12/1963 Webster 55-204 X OTHER REFERENCES Project408B of Wisconsin Ag. Experiment Stn.

D Oct. 12, 1956 (1 page).

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

